Book review

D. D. Home (1833-1886), the famous spiritualist and medium, here documents the extraordinary psychic events in his life. His autobiography was published in two parts (a promised third volume never appeared). The first, published in 1863, describes mysterious phenomena from his very first vision at the age of thirteen to the séances he held for the rich and famous in England, France, Italy and Russia. Home describes his personal life - the early death of his first wife, his subsequent financial difficulties, and his ongoing battle with tuberculosis. In the second volume, published in 1872, he responds to the criticism levelled at him by reviewers, sceptics and detractors including William Thackeray and Robert Browning. He also reports numerous séances and spiritual manifestations. Incidents in My Life presents fascinating insights into the phenomenon of spiritualism and its attendant controversies during the Victorian period.